Curcuma mangga val et. zipp. extract as a treatment to overcome prostate problems

Abstract

A preparation comprises a herbal extract and/or fraction, and a pharmaceutical preparation includes extract of Curcuma mangga Val. et Zipp., which has bioactivities in reducing expression levels of 5-alpha-reductase-1, androgen receptor, and PI3 in prostate cancer cells. The use of this present invention is directed to reduce prostate enlargement. Moreover, it also can be used to treat prostate cancer, lung cancer, and other diseases related to GPCR pathway.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), comprising administering to a patient suffering from BPH an effective amount of an extract of  Curcuma mangga  Val. et Zipp.,
 wherein the extract contains less than 0.05% (w/w) curcurminoids and is obtained by the process comprising the steps of: 
 
       (a) Chopping dried  Curcuma mangga  Val. et Zipp. rhizome to a length of 3-7 mm; 
       (b) Extracting the chopped material from step (a) with maceration and/or percolation method using an extraction solvent comprising a C1-C4 alcohol,
 wherein the solid-to-solvent ratio is (1:6)-(1:10) w/v, the duration of maceration and/or percolation is between 30-240 minutes, and the solids are filtered to obtain filtrate; 
 
       (c) Concentrating the filtrate from step (b) by evaporation until extract concentrate is obtained; 
       (d) Adding a filler to the extract concentrate from step (c); 
       (e) Drying the mixture of extract concentrate and filler from step (d) to obtain a dry extract; and 
       (f) Milling the dry extract from step (e). 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extract reduces the gene expression of 5-alpha-reductase-1. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extract reduces the gene expression of androgen receptor. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extract inhibits the PI3 kinase and Akt pathways.